California State Route 173, SR 138 to SR 189

 

APM: L0

Location: SR 173 and SR 138, San Bernardino Cty

No reassurance shield as SR 173 begins. With the closure in the middle of this segment, this has been de-emphasized as a state highway.

APM: L6

Location: SR 173 and Arrowhead Lake Rd, San Bernardino Cty

A few miles later we’re a mile from SR 173 ending for motor vehicles.

APM: L7

Location: SR 173 and Arrowhead Lake Rd, San Bernardino Cty

Pavement ends ahead and with it the highway closes to motor vehicles.

APM: 6

Location: SR 173 and Arrowhead Lake Rd, San Bernardino Cty

Which means we’re on foot for the next five miles. This is the closure gate. SR 173 closed to motor vehicles in 2011 but remains open to non-motorized uses.

APM: 6

Location: SR 173 and Arrowhead Lake Rd, San Bernardino Cty

There’s some bad pavement for the first bit.

APM: 6

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

But it gets worse as we approach the minor slide that took out SR 173 in the first place.

APM: 6

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

This is mostly driveable, though, with a clearanced vehicle.

APM: 6

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

This area is frequented by hunters – though the sign restricting the road to “street legal vehicles” predates the 2011 closure.

APM: 7

Location: SR 173 at Scenic Overlook, San Bernardino Cty

Curiously, though, there’s a random Kia Sorento parked at what was once a scenic overlook to a dam through the Mojave River.

APM: 7

Location: SR 173 at Scenic Overlook, San Bernardino Cty

 The view down to the Mojave River.

APM: 7

Location: SR 173 at Scenic Overlook, San Bernardino Cty

The road cut into the side of the foothills.

APM: 8

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

Postmile! But in a much simplified style.

APM: 9

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

Almost a mile later we’ll pass over a small bridge as we encounter some of the only trees on the route. SR 39 is a much more interesting closed-road hike than 173- 173 is largely just a sunny walk through foothills.

APM: 9

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

Normal postmile.

APM: 9

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

And another.

APM: 10

Location: SR 173, San Bernardino Cty

Postmile ten.

APM: 10

Location: SR 173 at Bradford Ridge, San Bernardino Cty

Shortly thereafter as we near the re-opening of the road, we’ll approach a truck crossing.

APM: 10

Location: SR 173 at Bradford Ridge, San Bernardino Cty

Pavement resumes.

APM: 10

Location: SR 173 at Bradford Ridge, San Bernardino Cty

And the road re-opens!

APM: 11

Location: SR 173 and Willow Crk Trl, San Bernardino Cty

The speed limit is an inexplicably low 15 once the highway resumes.

APM: 13

Location: SR 173 and Grass Valley Rd, San Bernardino Cty

Stay on 173 for Lake Arrowhead.

APM: 13

Location: SR 173 and Grass Valley Rd, San Bernardino Cty

Reassurance shield after Grass Valley Rd.

APM: 21

Location: SR 173 and SR 189, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Cty

A few miles later we’ll approach SR 189.

APM: 21

Location: SR 173 and SR 189, Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Cty

Follow 173 east to SR 18 and 189 west to Blue Jay.

 E to SR 18

 W to SR 18

 E to SR 18, W to I-15